[Illustration: Cover
THE
'FAN KWAE'
AT CANTON
BEFORE TREATY DAYS
1825-1844
BY AN OLD RESIDENT
]
THE
'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON
[Illustration: HOUQUA.]
THE
'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON
BEFORE TREATY DAYS
1825-1844
_BY_
_AN OLD RESIDENT_
LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE
1882
(_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved_)
PREFACE.
During the days of Old Canton, the Middle Kingdom deigned to suffer the
presence of a small number of 'foreign barbarians' on the banks of the
Choo, or Pearl River. Their residences consisted of Factories built
expressly for them, and originally destined one for each nationality.
They were contiguous, except where separated by three streets of narrow
dimensions which led from the suburbs of the city to the river which ran
in front of them.
No other port than that of Canton was open, nor had there been one since
1745, and no foreigner was permitted on any pretext to enter the country
or even the city outside of which he lived. The actual relations of the
Chinese Government with Western nations consequent upon the treaties
have caused such an entire change from the old mode of transacting
business, as well as in the life then led by the few foreign residents
at Canton, that a narration of the peculiar conditions of both (as they
were) is now, as a Chinese official would say, placed 'on record.'
PARIS: _March 31, 1882_.